Davao City – The Regional Development Council (RDC) XI awards the winners of the Davao Regional Development Plan, 2017-2022 Youth Advocacy and Competition Event conducted last March 9, 2018 in Tagum City where youth from all over the region gathered to showcase their talent through their interpretation of the Plan slogan: “Committing to Sustain Change”. The awarding ceremony served as the culminating activity of the competition.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the competition outputs on the production of DRDP advocacy materials, namely: posters (traditional and computer-aided), skit for radio and television, and audio-visual presentations (AVP) on the Pambansang Awit and Invocation Prayer. Winners of the poster-making contest was awarded on-the-spot during the March 9 competition event in Tagum City. The students of Tagum City National Comprehensive High School (traditional category) and Baganga National High School (computer-aided category) won first place in the poster-making contest.
The team from the Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) was declared grand winner in the radio skit competition and AVP for Pambansang Awit and Invocation Prayer competitions. The DNSC was, likewise, awarded special citations for cinematography, editing and directing, together with the Compostela Valley State College and the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology, including creativity in producing an infomercial; while the University of Southeastern Philippines received consolation prizes.
“You don’t have to wait to be an adult to help make positive change. You are part of the community and have the power to educate and influence those around you. Use your creativity. Be an inspiration. Believe in yourself and follow your passion”, NEDA XI Regional Director and RDC XI Vice-Chairperson Maria Lourdes D. Lim’s message to the young participants. She said that the outputs from the competition shall be used by the RDC XI for the advocacies of the Davao Regional Development Plan.
Among the judges were personalities specializing in film and media: Mr. Derf Maiz, a media paractioner, is the Head of the Social Communication Center of the Holy Cross of Davao College; Mr. Arnel Barbarona is a notable director, cinematographer and writer of films, which include, among other award-winning films, “Tu Pug Imatuy” that won Best Picture at the 2017 Sinag Maynila; Mr. Bryan Jimenez is the pillar of the film movement in Compostela Valley Province, who have also worked with Mr. Barbarona for the film “Tu Pug Imatuy” which won Best in Cinematography; Ms. Rose Bernales is a radio newscaster, who maintains a daily program for a prominent company in Davao City, and has been serving the airwaves for more than 20 years.
The Youth Advocacy and Competition Event is the final leg of the DRDP 2017-2022 Roadshow mounted by the RDC XI starting in December 2017 for the Region’s private sector stakeholders and local government partners. The Communication for Development Network (C4DNet) XI, the communication and advocacy arm of the RDC, has been instrumental in the success of the DRDP, 2017-2022 Roadshow through the leadership of C4DNet XI President, Prof. Luz Gomez of the University of Philippines – Mindanao. (Joan Irene M. Prantilla – DRD, NEDA XI)